Miriam Weakens, Could Impact Baja

By By Bill Deger, Meteorologist

October 10, 2012, 9:49:12 AM EDT

After attaining major hurricane status Monday, Miriam has since rapidly weakened and is now a tropical storm.

Miriam became the basin's ninth hurricane of the season, upgraded from tropical storm status late on Sunday.

Midday Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, Miriam's maximum sustained winds reached 120 mph, making the storm a major Category 3 hurricane. Winds have since weakened with Miriam is now a tropical storm.

While it is benignly spinning well off the western coast of Mexico now, the Baja California peninsula could begin to feel direct effects from the storm later this week. However, as Miriam moves north into cooler Pacific waters, weakening is expected to continue.

Despite the expected weakening, at this point residents and visitors to Baja California will need to begin keeping an eye on the progress of Miriam, as the storm is expected to begin to curve back toward the east.

At the very least, increased wave action and rip currents will threaten beachgoers along the peninsula's western coast for the better part of the week.

Rain and squalls from Miriam could arrive in the central peninsula as early as Thursday night or Friday. While the system may not be classified as tropical by this point, flash flooding and strong winds will be possible.